The Taliban’s leader lived right next to a US MILITARY BASE, new book claims

Dutch journalist Bette Dam alleges Mohammed Omar, who was considered head of the Taliban between 1994 and 2013, had been living close to the base while US soldiers continued to search for him. In ‘Searching for an Enemy’, Ms Dam says in one instance the fugitive, widely known as Mullah Omar, was even in a house searched by troops. According to the book, seen by The Guardian, Omar had been hiding in a secret room which US troops failed to find during their raid.

Omar rose to prominence as a well known ally of terrorist Osama bin Laden.

Following the September 11 attacks in New York, the US placed a $10m price on Omar’s head for his involvement.

In the Dutch book, Ms Dam says Omar would listen to the BBC’s Pashtu-language broadcasts while hiding out.

Since 2006, Dam has reported from Afghanistan and the new book took more than five years to complete.

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Jabbar Omari was one of the key figures Dam interviewed during her research.

As the Taliban rule Afghanistan, Mr Omari was provincial government before becoming Omar’s bodyguard.

Mr Omari said: “It was very dangerous for us there.

“Sometimes there was only a table width between us and the foreign military.”

Omar died of tuberculosis in April 2013.

He was known worldwide for his appearance as he had one eye missing.

His death was covered up by Taliban officials, who confirmed he had passed away two years after he died.

Omar was replaced by his deputy Mullah Akhtar Mansour as the head of the Taliban.

source: express.co.uk